Justice News

Colville, Wash., Man Indicted for Federal Hate Crime in Attempted Bombing of the MLK Unity March

WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Washington has returned a superseding indictment charging Kevin Harpham, 36, of Colville, Wash., with federal hate crime and weapons violations arising out of the attempted bombing of the Martin Luther King Jr. Unity March in Spokane, Wash., on Jan. 17, 2011, the Justice Department announced today.

The superseding indictment alleges that Kevin Harpham planted and attempted to use an improvised explosive device on the corner of Main and Washington Streets in Spokane during the march, because of the actual or perceived race, color or national origin of participants. On March 9, 2011, Harpham was arrested and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and possessing an unregistered destructive device.

If convicted, Harpham faces a sentence up to life in prison. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the National Security Division.